Pakistan has issued a forceful diplomatic response to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent declaration that India will not reinstate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), denouncing the stance as a blatant breach of international law and a threat to regional stability.
In a strongly worded statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) described India’s remarks as a clear violation of the treaty’s terms and a serious challenge to the legitimacy of global agreements.
“The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960 with the World Bank as guarantor, is an internationally recognized accord that cannot be revoked or altered unilaterally,” the FO spokesperson stated. “It is not a political arrangement, but a binding legal document.”
The FO criticized Shah’s comments as “a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international treaties,” warning that such actions erode the foundational principles of inter-state cooperation and legal order.
India Accused of Politicizing Water
Pakistan further accused New Delhi of “weaponizing water for political purposes,” calling it an irresponsible act that flouts accepted global standards of state conduct. “Turning water into a political tool violates the norms of responsible international behavior,” the FO stressed.
The FO demanded that India reverse its decision and resume full compliance with the treaty, urging an immediate withdrawal from this “unilateral and unlawful” approach.
Pakistan Vows to Protect Its Water Rights
Reaffirming its commitment to the treaty, Pakistan stated that it would explore all available avenues—diplomatic, legal, and otherwise—to defend its water rights and ensure the uninterrupted implementation of the agreement.
“Pakistan is committed to upholding international law and expects all nations to honor their legal obligations,” the FO concluded.
The diplomatic clash follows a recent interview in which Amit Shah said that India would divert water previously flowing to Pakistan for domestic use, particularly in Rajasthan. “No, it will never be restored,” he stated, asserting that Pakistan would be deprived of water it has received “unjustifiably.”
